Together for roughly 3 years, and aside from some compilation appearances, a 1982 7" EP and shows at Seattle clubs opening for bands like Nina Hagen and The Dead Kennedys, they stayed relatively obscure during their mid 80's run. One bright spot was KROQ's Rodney Bingenheimer hyped "Mohawk Man" a lot on his LA based Rodney on the Roq show where it actually made it to #1, beating out Toni Basil's "Mickey".
Other less well known members over the band's run included classmates Smitty, Dirk Kahler, Todd Morey and Dan Blossom.
The Rose
Mr. Epp and the Calculations Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Felt like her last tear for nothing
It's her life a toss of the coin for everything
The girl began to see
That you don't need just any man
And her pride is a kiss goodbye
On graduation day
She'd be happier alone
She always said she won't be anybody's
Second hand rose
She's scared, but she dares
She is a rose alone
Daddy says, you can't pay the rent
On a fairy tale
It's her play she'd rather be free
Than be safe in jail
Make or break,
You do what you gotta do
'Cause you can
Taste the wine, it's bittersweet
But the bite still it gets you high
She always said
She'd be happier alone
She always said she won't be
Anybody's secondhand rose
She always said
She'd be happier alone
She's scared, but she dares
To be a rose alone
The Rose by Mr. Epp and the Calculations is a song about a girl who, despite the challenges she faces, chooses to live life on her own terms. The opening lyrics, "When she cried, felt like her last tear for nothing" suggest she has gone through tough times, and may feel alone or uncertain about her future. The line "it's her life a toss of the coin for everything" reinforces this idea that she is unsure of what the future holds for her. However, she soon realizes that she doesn't need just any man, and "her pride is a kiss goodbye on graduation day"- suggesting that she is happy to leave behind anything that doesn't serve her well.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "She always said she'd be happier alone" twice, a line which is a reflection of the girl's desire to be independent and not rely on anyone else. The lyrics "she won't be anybody's second-hand rose" reinforce this idea that she wants to be the primary focus in her life. The song suggests that she is scared, but still daring enough to pursue a journey and a life of her own choice.
The attitude of the song is that life is about making choices, even if it means sacrificing comfort or giving up on things that don't work out. The song's music is simple, with the guitar providing an upbeat feel and the lyrics flowing smoothly over the music.
Line by Line Meaning
When she cried,
At the point when that girl shed tears,
Felt like her last tear for nothing
She felt that her last tear was useless
It's her life a toss of the coin for everything
Her life is a game of chance that could go either way
The girl began to see
She started to realize
That you don't need just any man
Not all men are suitable or good enough
And her pride is a kiss goodbye On graduation day
She lets go of her demands and expectations as she graduates
She always said She'd be happier alone
This girl kept repeating that she would have been happier without companionship
She always said she won't be anybody's Second hand rose
She wasn't willing to settle for a lesser position
She's scared, but she dares She is a rose alone
Despite her fears, she chooses independence
Daddy says, you can't pay the rent On a fairy tale
Her father warned her not to spend money on unrealistic hopes or dreams
It's her play she'd rather be free Than be safe in jail
She'd rather have freedom and take risks than be trapped in comfort
Make or break, You do what you gotta do 'Cause you can Taste the wine, it's bittersweet But the bite still it gets you high
You have to push yourself to succeed because it's possible. Enjoying success is bittersweet but exhilarating.
She always said She'd be happier alone
She repeatedly mentioned that being single would make her happier
She always said she won't be Anybody's secondhand rose
She refused to be somebody's backup plan
She always said She'd be happier alone
Once again, she confesses that being alone would suit her better
She's scared, but she dares To be a rose alone
She might be afraid, but she is determined to stand alone and be a symbol of beauty and strength
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANDRE PESSIS, ERIC MARTIN, ERIC LEE MARTIN, MARTI FREDERIKSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind